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Northwest Notes December 10, 2010

| December 10, 2010 8:00 PM

Coeur d'Alene High

football banquet set Monday

COEUR d'ALENE - The banquet for the Coeur d'Alene High football program is Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the school, coach Shawn Amos announced.

The banquet is for all players - freshmen through seniors - and their parents. Players are asked to dress semi-formal with no hats.

United Dairymen of Idaho

increases IHSAA sponsorship

The United Dairymen of Idaho Board of Directors, on behalf of Idaho's dairy farm families, voted to increase its sponsorship of the Idaho High School Activities Association by an additional $150,000, bringing the total sponsorship for 2011 to more than $335,000, the group announced at Tuesday's IHSAA Board of Directors meeting.

UDI, as sole official sponsor of the IHSAA as a "Partner in Youth Development" for the past 27 years, has contributed more than $4 million in support of Idaho students extra-curricular activities.

"Idaho's dairy farm families are committed to the youth of our state," said Deana Sessions, Administrator for UDI. "This is a significant increase in funding, especially at a time when dairy farmers are in one of the worst economic downturns they have experienced in more than 30 years," Sessions said, "but our sponsorship of the IHSAA is one of the most gratifying programs funded by Idaho's dairy farmers."

John Billetz, executive director of the IHSAA, thanked and praised the UDI for its past support and for the additional sponsorship dollars.

"The increase in sponsorship will go a long way to help offset some of the financial burdens placed on our schools during these trying economic times," Billetz said.

Additionally, Sessions informed the IHSAA Board that UDI will purchase a tournament sweatshirt for each student participant at every IHSAA state tournament or meet.

In addition to the state tournament sponsorships, UDI also sponsors the Interscholastic Star Scholarship Program and state championship banners for schools.

Chiefs add defenseman,

will lose two of them soon

SPOKANE - The Spokane Chiefs have added defenseman Davis Vandane to their roster.

The 18-year-old from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, will join the team tonight when Spokane travels to play the Vancouver Giants.

Vandane has appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, including eight this season. Vandane was placed on the Chiefs 50-player protected list in November.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman has played the past three seasons with the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, appearing in 96 games, scoring 20 goals, 64 points and posting 150 penalty minutes. In 14 games this year with Yorkton, he has five goals, 13 points and 12 penalty minutes.

With the addition, the Chiefs are now carrying 25 players, including nine defensemen. Spokane will lose two defensemen shortly as captain Jared Cowen will travel on Saturday for Team Canada's Selection camp in Toronto and 16-year-old Reid Gow will join Team West at the 2011 World Hockey Challenge after the holiday break.

Shock add O-lineman,

lose QB to NFL

SPOKANE - Offensive lineman Vladimir Richard has signed with the Spokane Shock for the 2011 season.

Also, Shock quarterback RJ Archer has been placed on Other League Exempt. Archer signed a contract with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings as a member of their practice squad.

Richard (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) was most recently a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he signed as an undrafted free agent after he completed his collegiate career at Tennessee in 2009.

Spokane opens its season March 11 at San Jose.

BSU to move ahead with

Bronco Stadium upgrades

The state Board of Education has authorized Boise State to move ahead with the first phase of a project to expand and upgrade Bronco Stadium.

The board Thursday voted to allow the university to start formal planning for the initial phase of the project, which would add 5,000 new stadium seats and cost between $33 million to $40 million.

The university has raised $8.8 million for the project, according to documents submitted to the board.

Boise State athletic officials unveiled plans in August to upgrade the stadium, its facilities and add more seats. The venue now holds 33,500.

University officials say the expansion is critical to keeping the football team competitive as they prepare to move into The Mountain West Conference next season.